The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-30
A Case OF Conscience.

A Case OF Conscience.
Here 10 very interesting and very I'M
portant case Of conscience presented to us
for treatment:
"I was born in New York city of Irish Catholic parenta
and left orphan at early age After staying
some time st the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum on
Fifth avenue went 70 the Newsboyr LodRns HOUSE,
and SOON without the knowledge Of my relations left
the city and have sinoe lived In this county where
by hard work. saved enough money attend Protest
ant college for three four terma am principal
OF Of the schools In the town came IN a. boy.
while cannot say gave mp the Catholic faith
was drawn from II 10 such degree that Joined .
Masonic lodge Masonic benefit association, and attend
cd Protestant churches aud conducted myself a. Prot
ssant but about ago Catholic pupils In
my schools we're be confirmed and their invitation
attended the services Language fails 10 describe my
feelings a. saw and heard the solemn ssrvice and
left church with the arm determination come what may
to 70 back to the religion Of my mother.
But bsok the question. and come TO you
| for advice Ny relatives In New York think am In
full accord with the Church. and cannot hurt their
feelings by undeceivns them The parish priest at this
place very old foreigner With an imperfect under
standing Of the English language and fear cannot
make him understand my case. Therefore now occupy
the peculiar position Of being Catholic In New York
and . Protestant here
"what steps will DO necessary for to take 10 get
back TO the Catholic church, VIII II Be necessary to
make any special prsparahonf OF course will be
Quirod and perfectly willing 10 renounce the Ma
sonic lodge without revealing anyhns but the certain
loss Of employ 10 serious matter for We're
known that cherish sentiments friendly to the Catholic
Church could not retain my place an instant longer
than would take to get me removed for the Catholic
population small and the sntcstholio sentiment great
at this place. An unfortunate Investment In perfectly
legitimate business has left In straitsned circum
stancea 20 that cannot remain long Of employ
Don't judge TOO hsrshy for my neglect Of religious
duty I n boy IN m a
and befriend me hore"
In accordance with the desire Of our per-
picked friend. we have omitted from his let
ter whatever might tend to discover his
Identity or his place Of residence; but 1t
seems to us that it would have been better
for him to attempt no such concealment II
he feels 1t to be his religious duty. necessary
for his souls salvation, to return to the
Church in which he was reared. the course
for him to take Is very plain. He should
give no thought to what might be the tenn
poral consequences Of his act but openly
and boldly proceed to throw of all disguise,
and present himself to his neighbors In his
true colors.
AS to what are the exact steps for him to
take to satisfy tho requirements Of the
Roman Catholic Church, we cannot advise
him, but we imagine that his return would
not be made difficult, and any priest to
whom he could clearly explain his case would
doubtless at once give him all the informa-
ton he wants. All that we can say is that
no man can afford to compromise with his
convictions for any temporal advantage or to
ward of any temporal danger such as that
which seems to our friend to threaten him !:
and especially must this be 30 with convio-
tons touching wnat he regards as necessary
to his salvation. Casustry can find for him
no loophole Of escape from that stern duty
For what shall 1t profit man II he shall
gain the whole world and lose his own soul2"
The only question for our friend to decide,
the only question for him at all to consider,
is what Is his religious duty under the cir
cumstances. II he Is Roman Catholic in
sentiment and conviction, he plays a false
part in appearing to the world as Profess
tant, and religion go far from being his sup
port, becomes his condemnation.
Nor do we believe that the people among
whom he lives would cast him out because
he followed the line marked out for him by
his convictions. Protestants though they
are, they should rather respect him the moro
because Of his brave devotion to principle ;
but II they are narrow-minded enough to pun
ish him for his courage and honesty, he will
not be without friends to aid and honor him.
Unless you can conscientiously change
them, stick to your principles and be afraid
Of no man.
The latest development among the sup
porters OF JUDAS PuLIrzER and the traitor
NIcoLL is the NIooLL button" This IS new
nickel coin which can be fastened In the but
tonhole of the coat dap In such moving
and impressive way do tho hackers Of tho
young gentleman from the University Club
appeal to the voters OF this community.
Still. the Hve-cent NIooLL button may serve
very we'll as a badge and symbol
1t represents money. Mr.. NIcoLL represents
the money OF wealthy Republicans and Mug
wumps. It representa- Doodle. and Mr.. NrooLL
is the Doodle candidate. for the Boodlers nat
urally prefer the candidate who doesn't con-
vict to the candidate who docs.
1t Ia fresh. and 80 Is Mr. NIcoLI. exceeding
fresh.
1t is Of small value. and 90 are tho extrava-
giant claims. assertions. and pretensions Of tho
Dude Candidates supporters.
Ye' an even more appropriate badge for
JUDAS PuLITzER's candidate would be piece
Of silver.
One Of the funniest impoetures on record
was the so-called Independent Democratic
meeting at the Cooper Union on Friday night.
The Independent Democrats" were for the
most part such Hard Shell Republicans as
JOE CHoATE and ELIHu RooT. or such profess
sional Mugwumps as CARL SoHURz, e. L. GOD
| KIN. and SILAs W. BURT.
STILL at least one Independent Democrat was
present. JUDAS PULITZER Is independent OF
truth. decenoy, and moral honesty.
"Mr. NIooLL," says the Daily Judas, "is
we'll nominated as peoples candidate"
| II the three tailors Of Tooley street were the
people Of England, then JUDAS PULITZER,
JONES. and GopKIN are the people Of New
| York city.
Mr. NIooLL Is tho Republican candidate: but
| the Republicans won't vote for him. He is also
the candidate OF part OF the University Club.
| He Ia also the candidate Of the dudes and the
snobs. all OF whom will vote for him. Some of
the young Princeton men and Harvard men
| and Yale men will vote for him. He 10 q swell